Residents Voice Concerns About L.A.’s New Franchise System

In July, Los Angeles implemented its new franchise zoning system dubbed RecycLA, which includes 11 franchise zones split amongst seven waste haulers. And now, just a little over a month later, customers have begun submitting complaints about an increase in prices, uncollected trash and unreturned phone calls.

L.A. sanitation officials have responded to these complaints by stating that they expect some glitches to happen in the short term as the program gets off the ground and the haulers get used to their new routes. They are taking about 90 calls a day about missed garbage collection, and they are ensuring customers that the issue is being promptly addressed.

Backers of the program, championed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, said the new system would increase recycling, roll out cleaner-fuel trash trucks and improve workplace safety for sanitation workers.

But the new program, known as RecycLA, is not being universally welcomed by the businesses and residents who will rely on it for their trash pickup. In recent weeks, customers have begun complaining about soaring prices, uncollected trash and calls to their new waste hauling companies going unreturned.